Caritas India has made an urgent appeal for global solidarity to help them respond to a second wave of the COVID19 pandemic which is ravaging the country.
With a record 300,000-plus daily infections being recorded in the country over the past ten days, oxygen and medical supplies are running low and the healthcare system has been brought to its knees.
Fr Paul Moonjely, executive director of Caritas India, says,
“The situation is so grim. People are flooding to the hospitals, the hospitals have no beds and people are just dying. Our frontline health workers and volunteers are working round-the-clock to keep up with the pace of health measures.”
“Furnaces have melted down from overuse and additional funeral platforms are being built outside. Such are the heart-breaking messages and haunting images that highlight the terrible second wave of the coronavirus pandemic raging through the country. The Church in India has lost many of its faithful laity and religious brothers and sisters in their pursuit to serve the distressed population,”
India has registered around 18 million COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. It is the second most populous country in the world with 1.3 billion people.
Caritas India staff have been advised to work from home until the 30th April and group activities have been suspended to help prevent the spread of the virus.
The organisation has been supporting communities throughout the pandemic. It is mobilising staff and volunteers to operate a COVID information centre and offer food, primary healthcare and medical support, including oximeters and inhalers, in response to the current second wave.
“While we are saddened by the unprecedented situation, we are also touched by your support, your generosity and solidarity,” said Fr Paul Moonjely. “I appeal to humanity worldwide to pray for support and for your moral encouragement.”
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Caritas India has been one of the main actors in the response to COVID-19.
Help Caritas India support communities through the deadly second wave: